The call for participation in the Forum "Ukraine Lab: Visions for peace-building and the new role of civil society and culture" is open, 20–24.09.2015, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine

We can't predict when the war in Ukraine will stop, but we can already foresee that the future challenges in the Ukraine will not have only military and/or economic consequences. For this reason we gathered participants at the first Ukraine Lab forum in March this year in Kyiv. The event showed us how important the question of synergies and consolidation is in order to overcome crisis. As a result of frantic energy, of ideas and of post-forum joint activities, we've decided to expand the international forum and announce the second phase of the Ukraine Lab with emphasis on forming visions in terms of transformation of state and society.

Despite the war, many conscious citizens dream of a "new country". But dreams can remain dreams unless they become vision and actions. Civil society has now a unique chance to become really important force in the country – but how can civil society and government change this transformation and how does finite relationship really occur? In order to overcome the traumas of the war and the development of common responsibility for the past and the future of the country prerequisites for the success of Ukraine are mandatory. But how should that change the culture of communication and culture of social dialogue? Ukrainian cultural scene comes to new levels of development and take more responsibility for the social and civic processes – how should we preserve this qualitative change and overcome dramatic ideological gap between the lively cultural scene and bureaucratic ministerial mechanism? Formal education and sciences are losing their positions and there is no chance to keep the qualified young people in the country. Besides that the reform of formal education and the support of the informal education, which could play a major party in civic education and democratic society, makes very little progresses. How did these transformation processes were managed in other (neighboring) countries, which recently went through similar processes of change? What will be the Ukrainian civil society in 5, 10, 20 years or even more?

The "Ukraine Lab Forum: Visions for peace-building and the new role of civil society and culture" will take place from 21st until 24th of September 2015 in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine (beginning at 10:00 am on 21st of September and ending at 15:00 on 24th of September). During the event there will be the possibility to present best practices and participate in sessions of (international) experts.

The travel expenses, accommodation and meals during the event are covered by the organizers.
The deadline for the application is inclusively the 15th of August 2015. Please fill in the form by clicking this link to surveymonkey.

For further questions please contact the coordination of the programme:

Corina Ostafi: ostafi(at)mitost.org (for the participants from the E.U.)

Ivanik Oksana: ivanik.oksana(at)maysternya.org (for the participants from Ukraine)

Additional information about the project:

Ukraine Lab – is an interdisciplinary platform for effective networking and cross-sector collaboration for change makers and think tank for visions and innovations for civil society and culture. In 2015 we have started the programme with two great forums for representatives from different sectors ("Ukraine Lab: Best practices and interdisciplinary approaches to civil society and culture in crisis and post-crisis times" 23–26.03.2014 in Kyiv and "Ukraine Lab: Innovation and vision for peace-building in civil society and culture "20–24.09.2015 in Ivano-Frankivsk) and a fair practice for the theoreticians and practitioners of education ("Open Space on non-formal education: Methods. The realities. Future" 21–24.5.2015 in Cherkassy).

The event is part of the Ukrainian non-profit institution "Insha Osvita" that has been running activities across Ukraine since 2010 focusing on quality management of non-formal education and adult education. The partner of the event is the German association MitOst. MitOst has been promoting cultural exchange and active citizenship in Europe and its neighbouring regions since 1996. With 1,400 members in 40 different countries as well as with various partners MitOst is part of a dynamic European network. The association organises international programmes and projects and serves as a platform for new forms of social engagement and projects.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Germany.